मनन Manana · ReflectStep 11 of 18
Puruṣa Sūkta · Ṛgveda 10.90.10
Verse 10Horses, cows, goats and sheep
तस्मादश्वा अजायन्त ये के चोभयादतः ।
गावो ह जज्ञिरे तस्मात्तस्माज्जाता अजावयः ॥
tasmād aśvā ajāyanta ye ke cobhayādataḥ |
gāvo ha jajñire tasmāt tasmāj jātā ajāvayaḥ ||
Meaning
Horses were born from it, and all the animals with teeth in both jaws. Cows were born from it. And from it came goats and sheep.
Word by word
Words joined in recitation are shown split. Where sounds change at the joins, the dictionary form is given under the word.
Reflection
Now the rishi lists the animals that mattered most in his world. Horses, which pulled chariots and were a sign of power. Cows, which meant wealth, food and life itself; a family's fortune was counted in cattle. Goats and sheep. And 'animals with teeth in both jaws', which sounds odd until you know that cows have front teeth only on the bottom. This is the world of herders, people who lived alongside their animals every single day. And the hymn tells them that these familiar creatures are sacred too. They all came from Puruṣa.
Your reflection
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